Numbers appearing with the 369 area code are used for fake government grant offers and intimidation threats. These scammers promise free money or try to frighten you with stalking claims to get what they want.
Look up any suspicious number using our scam and spam phone number lookup database. It includes over 29 million Do Not Call and robocall complaints reported to the Federal Trade Commission.
Scammers with foreign accents call claiming you are entitled to a government grant for as much as $9,000. They call from the "Government" or "Grinch Department" offering free money. They call relentlessly, sometimes over 25 times in just a few hours. When you refuse or ask for a supervisor, they become hostile and use profanity like "Fuck you." After you block a number, they call back from a nearly identical 369 number. They use your personal information to build fake grant profiles that can be sold to other scammers. The U.S. government will never call you to offer an unsolicited grant. Real federal grants require a complex application process that you must initiate yourself.
"I informed them of the law in CA that if telemarketers keep calling after we ask them to stop, we can file a lawsuit. They said they would remove my number, but someone keeps calling still and today when I asked for a supervisor, a Filipino sounding male told me 'Fuck you' and hung up."
A caller targets you by name, claiming to be watching you. They know your first name and personal details, claim to know where you live and work, and make inappropriate or threatening demands in exchange for information. The call may begin with heavy breathing on the line. They use your fear to extract personal information that helps them steal your identity or locate you physically. This is criminal harassment designed to terrorize you. These are not sales calls.
"He called her by name and told her he was watching her & had been watching her. That he knew where she worked & where she lived... He said he'd tell her whatever she wanted to know after she told him she loves him. She told him to f**k off & never to call her phone again or else. I am reporting it to the sheriff."
Callers identifying themselves as "Alex" or "Jordan" claim they are receiving error messages from your computer, often mentioning "Windows 7" specifically. If you say you own an Apple computer, they lie and claim the program "crosses over." The calls often come very early in the morning. They want remote access to your device to steal your personal files and banking information or install malicious software that locks your computer until you pay a ransom. Microsoft and Apple will never call you about a virus or computer error. Technology companies do not monitor your personal computer.
"First call at 7:37 this AM 'Alex' regarding problems he's receiving from Windows on my computer. I said you're getting a message about a Windows problem from my Apple computer? He said yes. Laughed at him and told him that Apple doesn't run on a Windows platform."
No, area code 369 is not a scam. It's a legitimate telephone area code serving millions of legitimate residents and businesses in California, United States. Area code 369 is a general purpose code that has been in service since February 1, 2023.
You're likely experiencing "Neighbor Spoofing." Scammers fake their caller ID to display local or familiar numbers. If you live in or near California (Santa Rosa, Vallejo, Fairfield), or have a 369 phone number yourself, scammers know you're more likely to answer what appears to be a local call.
Other California area codes where scam and spam calls are regularly reported: